Project 1 is going to look at how we solve word problems. There are three parts to solving word problems:

1. Figuring out what is important in the problem

2. Figuring out how to use that information or why it’s important

3. Solving the problem


Directions:

Part 1 - How do we break down a word problem?
Use the graphic organizers provided for you in class to break down each of the following word problems. You are not answering the questions. You are simply breaking down the problem into its parts, writing down everything that you know about those parts, and presenting ideas for possible solutions. For detailed directions and an example problem, open the following document:

The problems you are breaking down are:

1. A bag contains eight green marbles, five white marbles, and two red marbles. What is the probability of drawing a red marble from the bag?

2. When 36 is subtracted from the square of a number, the result is five times the number. What is the positive solution?

3. Tamara has a cell phone plan that charges $0.07 per minute plus a monthly fee of $19.00. She budgets $29.50 per month for total cell phone expenses without taxes. What is the maximum number of minutes Tamara could use her phone each month in order to stay within her budget?

4. The length of a rectangular room is 7 less than three times the width, w, of the room. Which expression represents the area of the room?

5. It takes Tammy 45 minutes to ride her bike 5 miles. At this rate, how long will it take her to ride 8 miles?

For blank graphic organizers, open the following document:


Part 2 - How do we solve word problems?

Solve each of the word problems given. Please use the graphic organizers if you find them useful! If you use them, please turn them in with your final project. SHOW ALL YOUR WORK for full credit.

1. Angela wants to purchase carpeting for her living room. The dimensions of her living room are 12 feet by 12 feet. If carpeting is sold by the square yard, determine how many square yards of carpeting she must purchase.

3 feet = 1 yard
9 square feet = 1 square yard


2. In a recent town election, 1,860 people voted for either candidate A or candidate B for the position of supervisor. If candidate A received 55% of the votes, how many votes did candidate B receive?

3. The width of a rectangle is 3 less than twice the length, x. If the area of the rectangle is 43 square feet, write an equation that can be used to find the length, in feet.

4. Joseph typed a 1,200-word essay in 25 minutes. At this rate, determine how many words he can type in 45 minutes.

5. At Genesee High School, the sophomore class has 60 more students than the freshman class. The junior class has 50 fewer students than twice the students in the freshman class. The senior class is three times as large as the freshman class. If there are a total of 1,424 students at Genesee High School, how many students are in the freshman class?